Editor, I am writing to publicly thank Ms. Danielle Byrne and her family for the $1,000 contribution received from the proceeds of the inaugural Squash for Josh 5k run. The donated money will be used to support the annual Richmond Hill National Night Out event.

In August of each year, thousands of residents and sponsors join together to celebrate National Night Out, which is a national campaign designed to bring the community together in an effort to rid or reduce crime in communities throughout the nation.

J.F. Gregory Park was the host location for the event this year. The race was organized by Byrne and held in honor of her late brother Joshua Moore, who was murdered on March 9, 2011, in Liberty County. Byrne began organizing the race, which will be held every September, in May. She wanted all of its proceeds to go to the Richmond Hill Police Department and the Savannah-Chatham Crimestoppers unit to aid efforts in curtailing violent crime in the area.

Without these funds and donations from various business and community leaders, it would not be possible to put on the event the size of our National Night Out celebration. Last year, over 3,000 people attended the event, which is second to none in the Coastal Empire area. We are truly blessed to live in a community with a low violent crime rate and have citizens that support law enforcement and public safety in general.

— Chief Billy D. Reynolds,
Richmond Hill Police Department